Queen flew away! Help!

wildbeekeeper · May 07, 2010, 02:06:25 PM

So i have never had this happen to me before.....i hived a swarm yesterday and checked on them today to see if they have settled. I picked up a frame f bes and lo and behold there was the queen...I wanted to mark her so I grabbed my tube and as I was coaxing her in, up she went and i last track of her. I put everything back together, left the top off for about 10 minutes and then closed it as there are storms moving in. So my question is will she come back or is she a goner? Not worried if she doesnt as I will just combine, but still that stunk!! Appreciate any advice!

charmd2 · May 07, 2010, 02:34:24 PM

there is a fair to good chance she'll return. Give it a few days and check for eggs.

iddee · May 07, 2010, 02:57:06 PM

Can you tell me where you read or heard to check a swarm the day after it was hived? I have seen many times it was recommended to wait 7 days, a few times it was 3 to 4 days, but I have never seen it suggested to check them after 1 day. If she has no eggs, no brood, no stores, why should she stay in a place that is being invaded daily?

wildbeekeeper · May 07, 2010, 03:04:23 PM

I know I know... it was dumb! :-\ Just thought id do a quick check....so anyway, i messed up, but whats the odds she'll be back.... if none, not worried as it was a small swarm and i'll just combine.

Paynesgrey · May 07, 2010, 10:56:57 PM

We had one get out of the cage when installing & fly away when I tried to get her back in. She was running from the other bees, so I guess they had not totally accepted her. We left the hive open until dusk (it was late afternoon). In the morning the bees swarmed out past the barrier and found her. We re-hived the swarm.

riverrat · May 07, 2010, 11:12:28 PM

i got to agree with iddee on this one there is no point in opening a swarm hived the day after. cant think of one reason to open it up. but i bet you dont do it again so you learned from it.

Kathyp · May 07, 2010, 11:17:25 PM

since we are all picking on you :-D

i'm not a real fan of marking queens. they are good or they are not. doesn't much matter what year they are unless you are into breeding queens or something.

not to worry. you are not the first and will not be the last to learn a lesson the hard way. i still forget to tuck in my shirt when i'm reaching for swarms and i HATE bees in my shirt.

Michael Bush · May 08, 2010, 04:24:53 AM

If you have a queen fly, just stand where you are with the hive open for the next ten minutes. Odds are she will orient on you and the nasonov from the bees and return. Don't close it up and walk off, as the most likely thing she will orient on (you) will be gone and the scent of the bees will be muffled. She still may return, but the odds are much less.